Cardiac scans can be performed using computed tomography (CT), a common test that makes use of x-rays to take pictures of the heart. Different types of cardiac CT scans are used to detect varying problems with the heart, including blood clots or other blockages in coronary arteries, or problems with the aorta or heart valves.
Traditional Cardiac Computed Tomography
Traditional cardiac computed tomography involves the use of very small doses of high-energy radiation to take pictures of the heart. As the patient stands or lies down, an x-ray machine moves around the body, slowly taking pictures of the heart from multiple angles. In some cases, doctors inject a dye containing iodine into a vein prior to the procedure in order to enhance these pictures. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a computer then combines these individual x-rays into a single, three-dimensional image of the heart which doctors can examine for various defects and blockages.
Electron Beam Computed Tomography
Electron Beam computed tomography is a type of scan typically used to evaluate the functioning of the heart’s chambers, including blood volume and output, as well as the muscle mass of the right and left ventricles. According to the American Heart Association, patients who have had previous coronary artery bypass surgery may undergo electron beam computed tomography to determine the patency, or openness, of the bypass graft. Congenital heart defects may also be identified using this CT method.
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Cardiac multidetector computed tomography is another high-speed scan that is used to detect the buildup of fatty or calcium deposits in coronary arteries. This type of CT is sometimes referred to as a coronary computed tomography angiogram, according to The Cleveland Clinic. During the procedure, doctors thread a catheter through the coronary arteries and inject a high-contrast dye that aids in creating clearer images. Patients then undergo a series of x-rays that are picked up by the CT scanner. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the rapid imaging speed of multidetector computed tomography, along with the use of multiple x-ray slices produces high-quality pictures of the heart.
Calcium-Score Screening Heart Scan
To determine whether a patient is at risk of developing heart disease, doctors may utilize a calcium-score screening heart scan to look for calcium deposits in the plaque found in the coronary arteries. Generally speaking, the more calcium found on the scan, the more severe the patient’s atherosclerosis and the higher the risk of a subsequent heart attack. However, the Cleveland Clinic points out that this test cannot identify all types of coronary artery disease, especially atherosclerosis caused by “soft plaque”--plaque comprised largely of cholesterol that can easily rupture and cause damage to the cells lining the blood vessels.
During a calcium-score screening heart scan, doctors attach electrodes to the patient’s chest and use a high-speed computed tomography scan--electron-beam CT or cardiac multidetector CT--and an electrocardiograph monitor to record and view several images of the heart. Based on the amount of calcium present in these images, the physician generates a calcium score estimating the patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
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